Video: ENSLAVED Guitarists Discuss Their Musical Evolution

April 3, 2013

In the clip below, filmed at the recent "Scion Label Showcase Presents Roadburn Records" show at The Roxy in West Hollywood, California, Grutle Kjellson and Ivar Bjørnson of Norwegian progressive/psychedelic black metallers ENSLAVED discuss the evolution of their band and how their ideas and influences developed as each member matured.

ENSLAVED's twelfth studio album, "RIITIIR", sold around 2,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 8 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

ENSLAVED's previous album, "Axioma Ethica Odini", opened with 1,400 units back in September 2010 to debut at No. 16 on the Top New Artist Albums chart.

"Describing the sound on the new album is both easy and hard," ENSLAVED's Ivar Bjørnson said. "It is easy because it sounds like ENSLAVED, whatever that means. It is hard because there are so many layers and different focal points. I have a feeling that it has a deeper complexity than our previous efforts, but at the same time, I do find it more catchy and moving. Then again, I am the opposite of objective in this, so again I'll leave it up to the people outside the band to make up their mind."

ENSLAVED's previous two CDs — "Vertebrae" (2008) and "Axioma Ethica Odini" (2010) — were released via Indie Recordings in Europe and Nuclear Blast in North America.

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